In May 2022, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced that it cracked the whip on ten illegal gambling websites. According to the regulator, the culprit sites had infringed the rules laid down under the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) of 2001. The ACMA has requested all the internet service providers in Australia to block the ten non-compliant sites.
Needless to say, a website operating in the Australian market, such as NoDepositHero.com only recommends and promotes operators who have been given the green light by the relevant authoritative bodies and granted the necessary licenses.
Multiple Online Casinos Blacklisted
The ACMA has been active in enforcing strict measures to arrest the rise of illegal gambling in Australia. A recent investigation by the regulator unveiled that ten offshore gambling sites had breached the provisions of the IGA 2001. The authority has been regular in deterring the rise in the number of illegal gambling websites since 2019. Sites such as Stay Casino, Level Up Casino, Rocketplay Casino, Casinority, Bambet, Dazard Casino, Cobra Casino, Wild Tornado Casino, Pokies Lab, and Cobra Bet are featured on the body’s list of defaulters which failed to comply with the established rules.
Ever since it requested to block offshore gambling websites for the first time in 2019, the ACMA has flagged over 481 suspicious gambling portals. The proactive measures enacted by the authority caused about 160 illegal service providers to shut down their operations in Australia. These measures were a part of the new gambling rules of 2017.
Blocking unlawful websites is a tool employed by the regulator to protect Australians from the dangers posed by offshore gaming portals. The authority also airs a message whenever anyone attempts to access the earmarked sites and treats the method as a valuable chance to warn the public against illegal gambling sites.
Apart from blocking the non-compliant sites, the ACMA cautioned customers to beware of websites posing as legal outlets. According to the regulator, customers should be mindful that suspicious websites will not have customer protection measures in place, despite their seemingly legitimate appearance. The absence of crucial protective rules can render Australians vulnerable to illegal gambling services.
ACMA Reports Reveal Increase in Gambling Trends
The ACMA released a report in February 2022, in which it established that the trend of iGaming and online sports betting had increased among Australians. According to the findings, more than 11% of Aussies engaged in iGaming in the past six months. The figures were 8% more than the percentage of iGaming participants in 2020.
The ACMA also published the findings of its annual consumer survey reflecting an increased prevalence of sports betting among Australians. Titled “Online Gambling in Australia”, the snapshot research conducted in June 2021 noted that about 8% of Aussies had placed a bet on racing or sports in the last six months. The figure was up by 3% than the trends in 2020. The report also found that 16% of Australian gamblers had gambled more frequently during the pandemic.
Besides the research studies on gambling behavior, the ACMA also published its desktop study in February, where it investigated the role of affiliate marketing in promoting access to online gambling services. The research found that affiliate providers charge a higher commission for iGaming, compared to other industries.
ACMA Compliance Priority List to Target Affiliates
Previously, the ACMA had established a 2021-22 compliance priority to reduce the negative impact of illegal online gambling services on people. The list targeted unlawful financial services marketing and affiliate services that can jeopardize vulnerable customers. The ACMA is also responsible for investigating such services that direct customers to illegal gambling sites.
At the time of releasing the priority list, the ACMA asserted its objective of investigating affiliate networks that infringe the Australian law while facilitating access to offshore gambling services providers.
